Izakaya Restaurants near Santa Monica, CA

“Great spot with all the feelings Japan. Amazing skewers and phenomenal hand rolls. Couldn’t get enough of the salmon sashimi. Great sake selection (we finished three bottles) and multiple drafts to sip. Engaging staff with a chef who knows what he is doing. We will return! 🍣 🇯🇵 🍱“

“My dinner at Kanpai Sushi in Santa Monica was nothing short of extraordinary. Chef Yoshi is a true master sushi chef. While he may not be new to the craft, his skill, precision, and deep understanding of traditional sushi brought me back to a time when sushi was simply done right.

In fact, Chef Yoshi could probably serve me a shoelace, and it would be the best thing I’ve ever eaten.

Everything was exceptionally fresh. The wasabi had a vibrant freshness that elevated every bite, and the ginger practically melted in my mouth. I sampled as much toro as I could possibly eat, along with an incredible selection of fish that showcased Chef Yoshi’s mastery and attention to detail.

The Kumamoto oysters were so delicious they made me want to kiss my fingers and thank the heavens. The uni was phenomenal and remains one of my favorite bites of the evening. However, the biggest surprise was the seared salmon belly. It was my first time trying salmon prepared that way, and it absolutely blew my mind.

Instead of ending the meal with dessert, I finished with a hand roll that combined fresh tuna and crispy shrimp tempura, topped with eel sauce. The contrast of cool, fresh tuna and warm, crunchy shrimp tempura created an unforgettable bite and was a complete game changer.

I’ve been eating sushi since I was 18 years old, and now well into my 50s, I can confidently say this is the best sushi restaurant I have ever experienced. Beyond the incredible food, the staff was attentive, professional, and genuinely respectful throughout the entire evening.

I have officially found my favorite sushi spot.

Thank you, Chef Yoshi. I’ll be back very soon.

— Linda“

“Found this restaurant in March and just returned for Mother’s Day dinner xoxoxo Great quality food and drinks, very pleasant staff!!! Authentic Japanese food items plus a touch of personality of its own makes their menu awesome and unique. We will come back for many many more.“

“心の居酒屋です🏮 モツなべなど　博多メニュー充実“

“Best Sushi in LA by far !“

“Good and delicious food…happy hour is great!“

“Fresh and delicious fish, lovely service and a very welcoming atmosphere! We enjoyed our meal and chatting with the owner and the chef about their hometowns. It made us want to plan our next trip to Japan ASAP! We will definitely be back. Thank you, Yusuke, for your hospitality.“

“A play on the Japanese Izakaya bar and Ramen Bar, Great Food all freshly prepared the same day at time of order, serving Lunch and reopening for dinner menu, full Sake selection and Wine Beer Mixed Drink selections, Freshly made by hand Buckwheat Soba noodles, an all around great Dinning Experience.“

“Saloon Osaka is an exceptional Izakaya.
Highly recommend this El Segundo gem!
From the nigiri, rolls, unique flavorful salad options, even the top grade caviar! Thank you Chef and staff, we had a wonderful experience and cant wait to be back soon.“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“We found this place by of chance needing to use the bathroom whilst walking around Venice and what a great find. Staff are lovely and welcoming and attended to us well. The place was very clean and the food was just right and so tasty. I will be returning when I visit again.“

“I love this place! The food is fantastic! And I’m a regular for a reason 😉“

“We had a great meal here on the roof top near the bar. The duck rice and duck meatballs were both great as was the Wagyu beef. The crispy chicken thigh was amazing and we also really like the dumplings. Every dish we shared was great and the kitchen did a very good job coursing out the dishes we ordered. We shared everything and there was plenty of food for our party of five. Even the deserts were outstanding. We shared the coffee gelato with cream and the mango fruit to end. The restaurant is very crowded and lively which makes for a fun evening. Very hard to get a reservation but worth the effort.“